Combined brachytherapy and electrochemotherapy catheters

An instrument for combined tumor treatment via brachytherapy and electrochemotherapy, comprising:

• a hollow tube configured for insertion of radioactive brachytherapy sources in a target volume, the hollow tube including a first end portion having at least one conductor disposed at the first end portion and an insulator configured over a length of the tube such that conductive materials of the tube, except for the at least one conductor, are electrically isolated from an exterior surface the tube,
• a conductive connection configured to electrically couple to the at least one conductor to provide a voltage to the at least one conductor to provide an electric field for electrochemotherapy, said conductive connection configured to be releasably inserted into the hollow tube while the hollow tube is positioned at an internal treatment site, wherein the conductive connection is configured to contact the electrode and electrically couple to the electrode while the hollow tube is positioned at the internal treatment site;
• and
• a selectively closeable valve configured to dispense a medical fluid from the tube to the target volume during the electrochemotherapy to provide increased uptake in tissue due to electroporation.

A method for combining treatment modes in an interventional therapy procedure, comprising:

• providing a medical device including a hollow tube having a first end portion having at least one conductor disposed at the first end portion and an insulator configured over a length of the tube such that conductive materials of the tube, except for the at least one conductor, are electrically isolated from an exterior surface the tube, a conductive connection configured to electrically couple to the at least one conductor to provide a voltage to an electrode, said conductive connection configured to be releasably inserted into the hollow tube while the hollow tube is positioned at an internal treatment site, wherein the conductive connection is configured to contact the electrode and electrically couple to the electrode while the hollow tube is positioned at the internal treatment site, and a selectively closeable valve configured to dispense a medical fluid from the tube;
• positioning the medical device at a first position at or in a target volume in accordance with a plan;
• performing a first treatment mode using the medical device at the first position to treat the target volume;
• and
• performing a second treatment mode which is different from the first treatment mode using the medical device at the first position to treat the target volume.